New York lawmaker probes funding of Yankees, Mets

ALBANY, N.Y. -- Saying there shouldn't be more public funding for the Yankees and Mets when there isn't enough for hospitals and schools, Assemblyman Richard Brodsky is investigating the ball clubs' request for hundreds of millions of dollars to finance their new ballparks.

The teams are asking New York City to bond for $450 million. That's on top of nearly $1.5 billion they were already granted.

The New York City Economic Development Corp., which is helping the teams through public financing, says rising costs are partly to blame, but the payoff to the community is clear.

Benefits from the Yankee Stadium include more than $1 billion of private investment in the South Bronx, business opportunities for local contractors and the creation of new permanent jobs, said David Lombino, spokesman for the economic development agency.

Brodsky, a Westchester Democrat, is questioning the new request in an expansion of his investigation into taxpayer subsidies for the stadiums.

The teams' pitch comes as health and education advocates fear deep cuts in city and state aid to help reduce billions of dollars in government deficits.

Brodsky, chairman of the Assembly authorities and corporations oversight committee, has questioned whether the public funding for pro stadiums is in the public interest and even if the teams need the financing.

"We don't have the money to fund trains, schools or hospitals, yet two of the richest, most profitable companies in the world are turning to taxpayers for support," Brodsky said. "What public interest is served by these subsidies, especially when average citizens cannot afford the enormous increase in ticket prices?"